Also known as the Dutch Vault, the Royal Dutch Mint in Houten in the Netherlands is one of four buildings shortlisted in the Best Industrial & Logistics Development category for the 2021 MIPIM Awards. The exquisite facade for this iconic building displays high-gloss Granite® Silky Shine from ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products.

MIPIM Awards: an internationally-renowned real estate competition

Since 1991, the MIPIM Awards have been honouring the most formidable and impressive projects in the world of real estate. The 2021 judges have shortlisted 50 finalists representing outstanding projects in 12 categories. It is now over to the MIPIM delegates to finalise the winning projects in each category. The winners will be selected with delegates’ votes carrying equal weight with the jury’s votes and will be announced at the MIPIM Awards ceremony on Wednesday 8 September, 2021.

Facetted cladding with Granite® Silky Shine

The exterior of the Royal Dutch Mint building resembles a safe with almost no visible opening. The unique design was inspired by the relief particular to the euro coins minted in the Netherlands. The cladding of this golden facade is made up of profiled and prepainted steel sheets (Isis 55-120/7 triangular profiles fabricated by ArcelorMittal Construction using prepainted Granite® Silky Shine Gold 50µm steel from ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products) which have been placed in different directions with the vertical and horizontal layers coming together to form the facetted facade. The Granite® Silky Shine facade is attached to the concrete building using a substructure made with Magnelis®, also from ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products.

Text:
Constructalia

Images:
SWAD Video
LT Photography

ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products has created a new product designed for use in extreme climates. Granite® HDXtreme is the latest prepainted steel in ArcelorMittal’s organic coated Granite® range. Granite® HDXtreme is uniquely beautiful, resilient against corrosion, sustainable, and can be used in both indoor and outdoor applications. A three-layer coating system provides high levels of protection against UV and corrosion. This enables ArcelorMittal to guarantee the steel’s performance. Granite® HDXtreme comes in a vast palette of colours and three different finishes to make any project unique.

Three-layer coating system

The strength of Granite® HDXtreme comes from its three-layer coating system which ranges from 70 to 75 microns (µm) depending on the finish. Each layer performs a different but integral function.

The primer layer plays a key role in corrosion protection by ensuring the top coat adheres tightly to the underlying steel. On top of that is a polyurethane basecoat which ensures the steel’s durability and provides the final colour. The coating is finished with a layer of varnish which adds texture to the coating, increases durability and surface robustness, and enhances the UV weathering potential of Granite® HDXtreme.

Weathering resistance

Granite® HDXtreme already meets the requirements of the updated EN 10169 standard for continuously organic coated flat steels. Its exceptional UV resistance offers colour stability for many years. Granite® HDXtreme is also ready to pass the upcoming new RUV5 UV resistance standard when it is published later in 2021.

The coating has also been evaluated by exposing prepainted samples of Granite® HDXtreme to accelerated UV, humidity, and temperature variations for up to 4000 hours. Natural outdoor exposure tests have also been carried out at locations around the world.

Automatic guarantees

ArcelorMittal’s extensive experience and testing, including in highly corrosive seafront locations, translates into a long-term guarantee of up to 40 years for Granite® HDXtreme. The guarantee is applicable to roofs and facades as well as the installation of rooftop photovoltaic modules.

Samples

Samples of Granite® HDXtreme are available through our online sample shop.

Three finishes, almost 50 colours

Created in consultation with architects and designers, Granite® HDXtreme is available in a huge palette of colours and three different finishes: satin, matt, and sparkling.

The satin finish is available in either 15 or 30 gloss units (GU) and has a grained texture. The matt (<10GU) finely wrinkled finish is available in four colours, and a sparkling, grained 30 GU finish is available in five colours. The latter are amongst the most attractive and sparkly steel finishes available on the market. More colours may be added depending on demand. The low gloss, matt finish is ideal for large flat panels and cassettes, while the standard and sparkling finishes are more suited to small panels.

9 solano colours have been added to the colour palette. Click on the image below to view.

Highly sustainable

The steel is designed for roofs and facades on buildings near the sea, and its performance is guaranteed for up to 40 years. Free of hexavalent chromium and heavy metals plus 100% recyclable, Granite® HDXtreme is highly sustainable: it has a lower CO2 footprint compared with alternative solutions such as aluminium.

The first building with Granite® HDXtreme

ArcelorMittal Ghent’s Indi building in Belgium is the first building to be clad with Granite® HDXtreme. Located close to the industrial environment of the mill and the sea, Granite® HDXtreme was the ideal choice.

Text:
ArcelorMittal Europe Communications
Constructalia

Images:
Jeroen Op de Beeck and Philippe Vandenameele
ArcelorMittal

The Royal Dutch Mint building, known as the Dutch Vault, in Houten in the Netherlands has won the People’s Choice Award at the 2020 Infosteel Steel Construction Competition. The spectacular facade for this iconic building was made with high-gloss Granite® Silky Shine from ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products.

Steel Construction Competition

Infosteel announced the winners of their 2020 Steel Construction Competition on 22 February 2021. Held annually, the competition is in its 21st year. Participation is open to any new construction or renovation built totally or partially in steel on Belgian soil. Projects outside of Belgium are eligible provided that a significant part of the project was headquartered in Belgium, as was the case for the Dutch Vault.

In addition to award categories of non-residential, residential, specific steel elements, and industrial buildings, the People’s Choice Award has been a part of Infosteel’s Steel Construction Competition for several years. More than 2700 people voted, selecting the Dutch Vault as their steel building of choice for 2020.

Facetted cladding with Granite® Silky Shine

The exterior of the Royal Dutch Mint building resembles a safe with almost no visible opening. The unique design was inspired by the relief particular to the euro coins minted in the Netherlands. The cladding of this golden facade is made up of profiled and prepainted steel sheets (Isis 55-120/7 triangular profiles fabricated by ArcelorMittal Construction using prepainted Granite® Silky Shine Gold 50µm steel from ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products) which have been placed in different directions with the vertical and horizontal layers coming together to form the facetted facade. The Granite® Silky Shine facade is attached to the concrete building using a substructure made with Magnelis®, also from ArcelorMittal Europe – Flat Products.

Text:
Constructalia

Images:
SWAD Video
LT Photography

Steel roofing is a popular choice in the construction and renovation market. The numerous advantages of steel roofing are what make it so convincing.

The advantages of steel roofing

The roof is one of the most visible, eye-catching elements of a house. If you are looking for an aesthetic, light, and easy-to-install roof with convenient options, all at an affordable price, then you should definitely consider steel roof tiles. It is a solution that has been successfully used for years for roofing in millions of homes and other types of buildings.

A wide range of organic coated steels for roofing applications

ArcelorMittal's range of organic coated Granite® steel for roofing offers a combination of a variety of textures and rich colours. For example: Granite® Storm works impeccably in demanding conditions, Granite® Ultramat offers a distinctive texture and matt finish, and Granite® Impression Cloudy is a steel with unique aesthetics including an appearance resembling natural materials such as clay or terracotta. These coatings are extremely durable and are corrosion and UV resistant.

Challenges in the creation of steel roof tiles

It would seem that there is nothing more pleasant when creating a steel roof tile than inventing its shape - a bend that will enhance the colour or reflect light in a unique way. However, not everyone is aware of the technical and material requirements that should or have to be met. Forming complex shapes on curved, convex, and concave surfaces in addition to the required flexibility of the varnish coat are challenging factors in the creation of steel roof tiles.

A partner in testing ArcelorMittal coatings

To ensure even longer use and greater durability of ArcelorMittal steel roofing, we began working with DACHPOLL to test Granite® Ultramat. Additionally, different tile shapes were tested by analysing bend radii. Thanks to our partner, the shape of the steel roof tiles have been adjusted in such a way so as not to exceed the required parameters for the varnish coat and to offer patterns of roof tiles that meet customers’ expectations.

About DACHPOLL

DACHPOLL have 40 years of experience in profiling roofing sheets and is a manufacturer of sheet metal profiling machines. DACHPOLL have also been conducting research in the field of profiling and sheet metal pressing for many years. A qualified team of engineers and specialists are constantly working to develop even better technological solutions in order to improve the quality of devices and products. As a result, their profiling machines are used by leaders in the roofing industry in Poland and abroad. The dynamic development of the company is also evident via the registration of several hundred industrial designs in patent offices in Poland, the European Union, Russia, and Ukraine. The patented industrial designs of DACHPOLL roofing sheets are currently setting trends in the roofing industry, and ArcelorMittal ensures that our Granite® Ultramat coating is being used at its best.

Text: Constructalia
Images: DACHPOLL